Jets WR Robby Anderson, despite arrests, says he has turned his life around

Robby Anderson claims he’s learned from his two arrests in less than a year. He claims he’s grown and matured. He claims he’s distanced himself from the people and places that influenced the persistent off-field issues.

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Of course, these are just words. And Anderson, the third-year Jets wide receiver, must prove to fans and, more importantly, team executives and his coaching staff that he truly has turned a corner with his troublesome personal life. “I’m doing everything in my power to avoid all those situations, because that’s not me, that’s not the place for me,” Anderson said Wednesday before the Jets’ second practice of mandatory minicamp, in his first public comments since a January arrest for reckless driving. “I’m an NFL football player. So I’m doing everything in my power to avoid anything to even get me close to those type of situations.”

Robby Anderson, who has had multiple arrests, claims Tuesday that he is focused on football. (Bill Kostroun / AP)

Anderson’s first run-in with the law came last May, when he was arrested for resisting arrest after an alleged physical altercation with a police officer at a Miami music festival. Last month, the charges stemming from that incident were dropped, which Anderson views as vindication.

“The truth always comes to the light,” he said.

Anderson’s second arrest occurred in January, and he still faces a misdemeanor charge stemming from that case. According to the police report, Anderson was driving 105 miles per hour in a 45-mph zone and ran multiple red lights before he was eventually apprehended. As he was being placed into the police vehicle, Anderson told an officer “that when he got out he was going to find (the officer's) wife, f--k her and n-t in her eye,” the report reads.

Anderson initially faced nine charges, including a felony for harm to a public servant or family. That, along with seven other charges, were dropped. Anderson refused to comment on the incident Wednesday, citing a “pending” legal matter.

“I’m not really the type of person that regrets things,” Anderson said. “I know in life, everything happens for a reason, and when you go through things, it’s a lesson and it turns into a blessing. I just work on overcoming things and learning.”

When asked if he’s been informed by the team that he’s on his final strike, Anderson responded, “No. I’m not going to keep talking about that.”

Todd Bowles would not address the same question directly.

“We typically don’t talk about player incidents,” Bowles said. “We handle all that in house, and if any decisions have to be made, we’ll discuss that upstairs before I ever do anything with the media.”

He added: “One instance is pushing it. But every incident is different, obviously. I’ve seen people have quite a few. We handle things in house. We’re confident in the way we handle things. We’re confident in Robby’s ability and the person he is, and we’ve talked to him, so we’ve put that to bed on our end and we’ll go from there.”

Anderson — who led the Jets in receiving yards (941), touchdowns (seven) and targets (114) last season — could face suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.

Anderson said he and his lawyer, Ed O’Donnell, will discuss that with the league when his second case gets resolved. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Temple does not expect to be banned.

“As you get older, you always want to mature and grow, and that’s my vision, that’s my goal, that’s what I’m working on,” Anderson said. “I’ve grown a lot. I’ve overcame a lot of situations, so just staying focused on what’s important.”

Anderson is thankful to still have a spot on the Jets roster.

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“That means the world to me, and it just motivates me more, and I really owe them the world,” Anderson said of the organization's support. “That’s why I’m working hard and giving it my all, because I know they believe in me and I know they’re behind me through whatever.”